What if?...

For all those times we've been told things like: "We'll never amount to anything" and "Oour efforts are never enough," that we simply release these "supposed inadequacies" to the LORD -and, like some truly shining examples learn how to totally S.P.A.R.K.L.E. instead?

And, what if...

the thought really works?

In Ordinary Jerusalem, Angelos Dalachanis, Vincent Lemire and thirty-five scholars depict the ordinary history of an extraordinary global city in the late Ottoman and Mandate periods. Utilizing largely unknown archives, they revisit the holy city of three religions, which has often been defined solely as an eternal battlefield and studied exclusively through the prism of geopolitics and religion. At the core of their analysis are topics and issues developed by the European Research Council-funded project "Opening Jerusalem Archives: For a Connected History of Citadinite in the Holy City, 1840-1940." Drawn from the French vocabulary of geography and urban sociology, the concept of citadinite describes the dynamic identity relationship a city's inhabitants develop with each other and with their urban environment.

Many parents feel hopeless, frustrated, angry, and exasperated when raising their children. This is a book of hope. Jenean shares some of her personal struggles in raising twin boys diagnosed with autism, after a painful legal separation from her husband. True stories from seven other God-fearing single parents are shared to encourage you along your journey in raising your blessings from the Lord. This devotional was written to embolden you or a loved one-there is light at the end of the tunnel. That light is Jesus Christ, the Anointed One. He will guide you as to what is best for you and your child. He has equipped you for this precious child. It may not be easy, but God purposed you for a time such as this.

Jenean encourages you to journal your prayers daily as you comb through the Scriptures. Jot down your hopes, fears, dreams, and prayers daily as you get to know God. She has chosen songs and Scriptures that ministered to her during the difficult times. Meditate upon the Scriptures or choose your own, but turn your internal voice from complaining to praising, and watch God turn your situation from darkness to light in Him

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the focus of love and devotion for one fifth of humanity. Even outsiders cannot deny his political genius and great statesmanship as the founder of a new world order and the stimulus for a succession of brilliant and progressive civilisations. But a study of his life in these terms overlooks arguably his most essential qualities - his mercy and benevolence. Internationally renowned Islamic scholar, Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has produced a work unrivalled in its comprehensive treatment of the subject matter, illustrating the merciful character of the Prophet in all its aspects, towards humans and more generally towards all beings. Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has reproduced a solid corpus of references from the Qur'an, along with reliable Hadith, specially selected for authenticity and relevance. All sources are meticulously referenced in Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri's characteristic style. This book shows how in spite of immense hardships and painful ordeals, the mercy and compassion of the Prophet remained to the fore, even towards those who opposed and persecuted him. For Muslims, this book will be a means to celebrate the magnanimous personality of the Prophet and an incentive to instil the great qualities of the Prophet in their own lives, while non-Muslims and academics will discover how these qualities as described in the Islamic literature have caused the Prophet to occupy his preeminent position in the religious consciousness of Muslims.

A mother's biological experience of "birth" overwhelmingly captures every ounce of her physical being and has drawn endless cultural attention as a cataclysmic event. The actual moments of birth are indeed spectacular and amazing - a miraculous event that reflects the Heart of God. But surprisingly this sensorial transaction accounts for perhaps one tenth of what is actually packed into this small window of time. The remaining ninety percent of this phenomenal wonder occurs in a world unseen by our human eyes. There is a supernatural process of radiant creativity in operation that goes back to the beginning of time and forward to the end of time. Birth, the biological moment of transition, merely connects the small tangible piece of the flesh to the bigger pieces of a supernatural journey which is stunning and amazing, because Yahweh God is an absolute genius at doing life. As a believer in Yeshua the author's journey to fulfill her destiny has led her down an exquisite path of discovery into this unseen world. Working as a Midwife for the last 50 years has taught her to live life, not from this small, tangible, temporary world, but from the magnificent spirit world that encompasses it and lasts forever. The true stories in this first book have focused on redeeming the gift of Kairos moments for God's Kingdom, and a tiny bit of how angelic forces help us do that in the midst of a world of darkness. This book is not about birth or midwifery. It is a collection of stories that demonstrate the faithfulness of Yahweh God, the designer of birth, and the author of its supernatural dimensions, who engages intimately with earth to touch our every need. It is His story written through the lives of His people.

The Festschrift Darkhei Noam: The Jews of Arab Lands presented to Norman (Noam) Stillman offers a coherent and thought-provoking discussion by eminent scholars in the field of both the history and culture of the Jews in the Islamic World from pre-modern to modern times. Based on primary sources the book speaks to the resilience, flexibility, and creativity of Jewish culture in Arab lands. The volume clearly addresses the areas of research Norman Stillman himself has considerably contributed to. Research foci of the book are on the flexibility of Jewish law in real life, Jewish cultural life particularly on material and musical culture, the role of women in these different societies, antisemitism and Jewish responses to hatred against the Jews, and antisemitism from ancient martyrdom to modern political Zionism.

From one of America's most brilliant writers, a New York Times bestselling journey through psychology, philosophy, and lots of meditation to show how Buddhism holds the key to moral clarity and enduring happiness. At the heart of Buddhism is a simple claim: The reason we suffer-and the reason we make other people suffer-is that we don't see the world clearly. At the heart of Buddhist meditative practice is a radical promise: We can learn to see the world, including ourselves, more clearly and so gain a deep and morally valid happiness. In this "sublime" (The New Yorker), pathbreaking book, Robert Wright shows how taking this promise seriously can change your life-how it can loosen the grip of anxiety, regret, and hatred, and how it can deepen your appreciation of beauty and of other people. He also shows why this transformation works, drawing on the latest in neuroscience and psychology, and armed with an acute understanding of human evolution. This book is the culmination of a personal journey that began with Wright's landmark book on evolutionary psychology, The Moral Animal, and deepened as he immersed himself in meditative practice and conversed with some of the world's most skilled meditators. The result is a story that is "provocative, informative and...deeply rewarding" (The New York Times Book Review), and as entertaining as it is illuminating. Written with the wit, clarity, and grace for which Wright is famous, Why Buddhism Is True lays the foundation for a spiritual life in a secular age and shows how, in a time of technological distraction and social division, we can save ourselves from ourselves, both as individuals and as a species.

Have you ever wondered where God was when things seem to be going wrong in your life? Maybe you have even asked why. In A Father's Love, author James Sienkiewicz takes you on a journey seeking the answers to those questions as the storms of life hit.

Baghdadi Jewish Networks in the Age of Nationalism traces the participation of Baghdadi Jews in Jewish transnational networks from the mid-nineteenth century until the mass exodus of Jews from Iraq between 1948 and 1951. Each chapter explores different components of how Jews in Iraq participated in global Jewish civil society through the modernization of communal leadership, Baghdadi satellite communities, transnational Jewish philanthropy and secular Jewish education. The final chapter presents three case studies that demonstrate the interconnectivity between different iterations of transnational Jewish networks. This work significantly expands our understanding of modern Iraqi Jewish society by going beyond its engagement with Arab/Iraqi nationalism or Zionism/anti-Zionism to explore Baghdadi participation within Jewish transnational networks.

Ancient tradition says that much of the Bible's deepest wisdom lies hidden beneath the surface text. "Mending the Heart, Tending the Soul," Gail Albert provides a detailed and practical guide to such deep wisdom, providing interpretations, contemplative meditations, and personal experiences to act as guides for the spiritual journey. Exploring texts from Genesis through Deuteronomy, Albert traces a path of psychological growth and spiritual transformation that addresses the big questions: Who am I? What is life about? How should I live each day? Where is G-d? How can I find peace?

"Mending the Heart, Tending the Soul" seeks to speak to your heart at each step of the way on the path toward enlightenment.